Chemical trap gun



June 20, i950 l J- U. LEHN CHEMICAL TRAP GUN Filed June 2, 1944 INVENTOR. dOH/v d L E/wv Patented June 20, 1950 John U. Lehn, Lititz, Pa.,assignor to Animal Trap Lititz, Pa., a corporation Company of America,

of Pennsylvania Application June 2, 1944, serial No. 538,439

My invention consists inthe novel features hereinafter described,reference being had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates oneembodiment of the same, selected by me for purposes of illustration, andthe said invention is fully disclosed in the following description andclaims.

The present invention relates to trap guns for destroying certainpredatory animals, for example, coyotes and Wolves, by explosivelydischarging poison or other chemicals into the mouth of an animalspringing the trap. The poison and the propellant charge are preferablycontained in a cartridge somewhat similar to a gun cartridge, the trapbeing provided with a chamber into which the cartridge is inserted, afiring pin for discharging the cartridge, and trigger mechanism forreleasing the iiring pin. In use the trap is driven or buried in theground with only a small part projecting to which the bait is attached.rIfhe bait holding portion is connected with the trigger mechanism insuch manner that when the bait is seized by an animal the ring pin isreleased and discharges the cartridge in the cartridge chamber. Y

By reason of the traps being substantially buried in the ground andbeing subjected tothe deleterious effect of dirt, rain, snow, ice, etc.,they are required to operate under extremely adverse conditions.Moreover, in order to operate satisfactorily the traps must besufficiently sensitive to be discharged quickly and surely when the baitis seized by an animal for which the trap is set, and must yet beentirely safe so that the trap will not be discharged accidentally bybeing stepped on or struck by cattle, sheep, horses or other animals. Atthe same time the trap guns mustvr be sufficiently inexpensivev that atrapper can afford to own and operate a long line of traps and must besuiciently simple and fool-proof that they can be used and serviced bypersons not having any great amount of Vmechanical skill.

It is .an object of the present invention to provide a trap gun ofsimple construction that can be manufactured and sold at a low cost andyet be durable and reliable. Another object of my invention is toprovide a trap gun which can be assembled easily and cheaply duringmanufacture and can also be easily disassembled and reassembled in thefield Iwithout the use of tools other than the setting tool commonlysupplied with such traps. By reason of this feature the traps, inaccordance with my invention, can be quickly inspected, cleaned andserviced by an unskilled person even when Working out on the trap line 5claims. (C1. y113-84) under adverse weather conditions. A further.

feature of my invention is that although the parts can be easily'V andquickly disassembled when' desired, they are positively held againstacci'-I dental separation in the operation or handling of the trap.Astillfurther feature yof my invention is to provideva trap which isparticularly easyand safe to set and yet sensitive and positive in itsoperation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be understood from thefollowing description` of an embodiment of my invention shown by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings andy from the appended claims.

' In the drawings: l.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of a trap embodying my invention,the trap being shown in set or cocked position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken approximately on theline 2-2 inFig. 1.

Fig. v3 is a` longitudinal cross section similar Ato Fig. 1, but showingthe trap in sprung or red position.

Fig. i vis a transversecross section taken onthe" line 4--4 in Fig. 3. l

' In the drawings I have shown by way of example one embodiment of myinvention.' The the drawings as being aI separate cap or plug 3 having athreaded portion 4 engaging correspondj ing threads at the lower end ofthe side walls so thatthe closure can be screwed onto Athe body portionof the socket member during assembly 01,?A

the trap, and can if desired be subsequently unscrewed whendisassembling the trap, for eXam- Y'ple for inspection or repair.

is f 'shown extending transversely through vthe socket member andengaging notches 6 in the upper end of the closure 3 to prevent theclosure from being accidentally'unscrewed. The closure 3forminglthelowerend of the socket member'is shown as being tapered or pointed tofacilitate the trap being driven into the ground. One for] both ends ofthe pin may be allowed to projectl beyond the outer wall of the socketmember to act" i as an anchoring means,v increasing the resistance ofthe trap against removal from the ground]A Near' its upper end thesocket member lis pro-" vided with an internal annular recess 'I formedbyan annular external bulge 8 in the sidewalls y A removable Ipin 5tainer 9 is hollow and is open at both ends, the

internal diameter of the upper end beingreduced to provide a smallopening IQ. -The .npperendoi the retainer projects from tljiegp pp erendof the socket member I and is provided with a cartridge chamber I I,which is attached to .thebody portion of the retainer in such awaythat'it can be removed or opened for insertion of a cartridge, I2. Forexample, the upper end'of the retainer and ,the lewer- .en d .eftleartridee ehember can beprotgided witheerplementary.threadsee.Sllpvvii in '",the ldrawings, .so4 that .the'chamber'an be.v serratedontotire upperengi yof the bgcy portieri he Iretainer. internalshoulder.I 3 onthe cartridge Vchanter is adaiited to engage. the rim. of'thecartridge' to. hold. .the latterv firmly in the. c liwinbe "Thelca'r,'t ri' dg` case of a 'if-iredcartritlrge4 is removed fronfithchamber by unscreyving. the, cartridge-.chamber I.:Il from the retainer.A new Cartridge een thereupon be lnerted inthe eer--tridjgejtiramberandthe latter screwed back on tlltefbedy. 'Pertienef'the" retainer 9,! The cartridge. chamber yalso serves lasa bifa .i.h'o lder for. the trap. and for this purpose is providedfat'its upperend vgaithja flange. I4 for .r etaining.theb

The rta'iner 9,.con 'tainsa ring p 1n I5 having an enlarged`central"'poiti on 6f wl'iichV slidablly engages .theinner wall of.' theretainer. At.A its upper' 'end"the' ririgf pin vis provided with. ayreducedpoigtion I1 ending. ina tapered nose I8 ai. ted teintes thfgdtghthe @time with. the. upper eed of the retainer tstrike 'and discharge a,,cart.ridge ,held. in the cartridge -chamitiery lfl. E cbur'ved'shoulderI9 is "formed at the junction orthe reduce portion I.'I v withVthe:enlargedcentural-.portion IBJoff thle"iiriruig.pin.v The lower endoitheri'rig pin. :isalsoo'f re Luced .difar'netenform i1 i' g',ashouldefrv '2 0.. .compressionfspring S2 Il encircles theire'duced'lowcrehdZZ' ofthe firing pin, oneend of. they .Spring bearingagainstthejshoulf der( VYMl4 and 'theether bearing 01.1 e..,remeveelethreededliilue" 23, which eleSeS the lower endet the, retainer 9. I't,wi 1lfbe seen .that the spring 2,I ezte'rts eri'uewerdly directed feree.en the. -ring. Dit? tending Ate mete it .from the eeekedlpesltienSherri i'rlgFie- 1 tothepesitieri .stemmig-Fig. 3.111

which the firing pin, has struckand discharged the` cartridge.

It' ill be .Seen from theage-ve .description that thefrlee P111 'iis`inestable longitudinally inside the retainers, andthe retainer is inturn movable.. leneitvdinelly Within. .the .Seelset member,y It Ineeeetdenee with my'inventien theretener is previdesiwith leteh mechanismMuch-serves the.

dual function of 1releasably holding'thejiiring p ini iltgeeekesipesitien end releasably limiting, the longitudinal :movement .of Itheretainer relative to theslocketmember. The side walls lof the re-Atainer. 9*..arefprovided with one or more radiallyv egtendingholes or.openings24. These holes arev spaced fromtheupper end of the retainer andMese fpesitened 'that vthey' register withY the annula; recess IA of-the .socket member when the retainer .iS in ltsHQperpQSitiOn.. asillustrated .inA Fig. 3. A detent element 25, shown. in the form of aspherical ball, is provided in each of the openings 24. The balls 25 tloosely in the holes 24 and are retained therein only by engagement withthe socket member I andfiring pin I5, as described below. The radius ofthe balls is approximately equal to or slightly less than the thicknessIof the cylindrical side :Wall Vof the retainer 9 so Athat the ballsprotrude from one or the other side of the wall, being movable from.inner position illustrated in Figs. 1' and 2, toy an'outerposition shownin Figs. 3 and 4. In their innerpositions, the balls engage the curvedshoul .der .Idzof the firing pin, the radius of this shoulder beingapproximately equal to the radius of the balls. The engagement of theballs with the shoulder I9 holds the ring pin in cocked position,'theballs being held against outward movement :by engagement w-ith the innersurface of the side walls of the socket member I. Inward 4rnovement ofthe balls is preventednot only by theirengagement vwith .the shoulderI9, but also byv the reduced portion IT of the firing pin which is ofsuch diameter that the space ybetween the, reduced portion .Igl ofthenring. pinand the inner walls vof the retainer 9.. is less than .thediameter of the balls, and is preferably approximately equal to orslightly less than the radius of the balls. Hence, .even if the ring pinI5 is pressed downwardly so..that ,t h e shoulder I9 does not. en gagethe balls, the balls are nevertheless retained; in the openingsI 2 4by,their.engagement with the reduced.r portion ILof the ring pin andwith` the. inner wall .surface of the socket member. In their outervpositionsS (Figs. Band 4.) the spherical. detentlelemgents 25 .en g2.gein the annular recess I of the, socket member! and thereby vhold theretainer 9 against movement relative to the socket, member. `I nnerfmovement of the balls is` prevented by their engagement with theenlarged portion I6 of the ring pin.I As shown in the drawing the' crosssectional radius of the recess.

1; is approximately .equal to the radius of the balls, soY that .whenthe balls are in their outerv position the retainer is positively heldagainst. longitudinal movement. ineither direction.

The operation ofthe `trap will be apparentfromethe foregoing descriptionof the parts. Inthe s et'.

positionoffthe trap shown in Fig. l, the ringpin.

I5, isheld Ain cocked position against the action'.

of its spring 2.I. Vby engagement of the spherical.` detent members25with the curved shoulder I9i- I t -will be seen that the springpressedring pin acting through the curved. shoulders I91engagingithe balls,tends to move theballsout-Wardly,lbut-that in this position of thetraploutward movement is preventedby engage--V ment ogtheballsjwith theinner wall surface of# The trap is Sprungby-` of the iiring pin.

the 4.Socket member I. pulling outwardly` on the cartridge chamber: I-I

to causejthe retainer 9 to move upwardly-relative to 'thasocketmembenuntilthe holes 24 containingrthe b alls 25 registervwith theannular-recess lget-tbefeeeltetmember. The balls are thereupon.permittedyto move-:outwardly into the recessv 'I .(Figs. 3 andi)thereby moving out ofthe path of the-firing .pin and releasing theringypim. which, under-the action of its spring 2I, is moved;rapidlyupwardly, causingthe nose I8 of the upper, reduced :portion tI'Ito pass through: the opening'v IQgand-,-strike the: percussion cap orrim of the f cartridge held in I,thecartridge chamber II.

-The outward-movement of .the balls 25into the.V

recessvgI-flocks theretainer in its outer position (Fig.,3) Aandpositively prevents furtherupwardly The retainer is.

movement of the retainer 9.

thereby prevented from being completely withdrawn from the socketmember. Moreover, as long as the firing pin is in its upper or redposition, as shown in Fig. 3, the retainer 9 is also locked againstdownward movement, being positively held in its upper position. Thisserves as a visual indication that the trap has been sprung even thoughthe cartridge, through some defect, may have failed to nre. By referringto Fig. 3 it will `be seen that the balls areheld in their outerposition by engagement with the enlarged central portion I6 of thefiring pin l5, so that the retainer is positively held against movementin either direction.

The trap is reset by removing the cartridge case of the iired cartridgeand pressing downwardly on the firing pin l5 by means of a setting toolhaving a slender shaft small enough to pass through the opening i il anda concave end adapted to engage the nose iii of the firing pin. Whendownward pressure is applied to the firing pin the retainer 9 is heldagainst downward movement relative to the socket member l, until theshoulder i9 of the ring pin has passed the holes 24 containing thedetent elements 25, i, e., until the `firing pin has reached its cockedposition. Byreason of this automatic locking of the retainer during theinitial portion of the setting operation it is unnecessary to hold theretainer manually while forcing the firing pin downwardly relative tothe retainer. As soon as the shoulder I9 of the iiring pin has movedpast the opening 24 the balls 25 contained in the openings move inwardlyand lock the ring pin in its cocked position while simultaneouslyreleasing the retainer for downward movement relative to the socketmember l. The retainer and the ring pin thereupon move downwardlytogether to the position shown in Fig. 1. It will thus be seen that theresetting of the trap is easily and quickly accomplished by merelypushing downwardly on the firing pin. When, las is ordinarily the case,the socket member l is inserted in the ground the setting of the trap isa one-hand operation.

As explained above the detents 25 hold the nr- .,ing pin in cockedposition until released by upward movement of the retainer 9, and uponrelease of the firing pin the detent members lock the retainer againstfurther upward movement and prevent its being pulled all the way out ofthe socket member l. are'thus movable from an inner position (Figs. 1 vand 2) in which they prevent relative Imovement of the firing pin andthe retainer to an outer position (Figs. 3 and 4) in which they preventrelative movement of the retainer and the socket member.

` While accidental withdraw-al of the retainer from the socket member isprevented by this dual operation of the detent members 25, the retainerand its associated parts can, if desired, be readily disassembled fromthe socket member for purposes of inspection, cleaning or servicing.Starting with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, this isIaccomplished by pressing downwardly on the firing pin l5 by means ofthe setting tool, while simultaneously pulling upwardly on the cartridgechamber of the retainer 9. The downward pressure on the ring pin bringsthe reduced portion H opposite the openings 24, permitting the balls 25to move inwardly and thereby releasing the retainer from the socketmember I. The retainer e can thereupon be removed upwardly from thesocket member. If further disassembly of the trap is desired the plug 23is un- The detent members 25 screwed from the lower end of the retainer9, permitting the removal of the firing pin l5 and its spring 2 l. Inreassembling the trap the firing pin l5, spring 2i and plug 23 are firstput back into the retainer 9 and the retainer is inserted in the upperopen end of the socket member-|- and is slid downwardly into thev socketmember until the openings 2li are just above the upper end 2 of thesocketmemben then inserted in the openings 24 and downward pressure isinserted on the ring pin I5 by means of the setting tool. This pressesthe ring pin down to its cocked position so that the balls 25 arepermitted to move inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereuponthe retainer 9 and firing pin I5 move downwardly together into thesocket member. The trap is thus easily and quickly reassembled.

In using the trap the pointed socket member-I is pushed or driven intothe ground, and then preferably turned so that the projecting end of pin5 will bite into the earth and act as an anchoring means for the socketmember. The trapv is cocked or set by pushing downwardly on the firingpin with the setting tool, a cartridge l2 is inserted in the cartridgechamber l l, and suitable bait, for example, a piece of meat, is securedin position around the cartridge chamber. When an animal such as acoyote sees the bait and pulls upwardly on it, the retainer 9 is raisedto the posi-` tion where the openings 24 are in register with the recess'l of the socket member, whereupon the spherical bodies 25 moveoutwardly in the recess l and the firing pin is released to dischargethe cartridge. Upon release of the ring pin the retainer 9 is lockedagainst further longitudinal movement relative to the socket member I,and cannot be pulled out of the socket or be pushed down into the socketuntil the firing pin is depressed as described above.

It will be seen from the above description that the trap according to myinvention is of simple, yet rugged construction, is simple and reliablein its operation, and can be easily and quickly disassembled andreassembled for inspection and servicing. While my invention has beendescribed wtih reference to the particular embodiment shown by way ofexample in the drawing, it lwill be understood that the invention is notlimited to the details of the specific construction illustrated. i

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:` Y

l. In a-trap gun, the combination with a cylindrical socket member openat one end and having a recess in its inner surface and spaced from saidopen end, a cylindrical retainer longitudinally movable in said socketmember and having at one end a cartridge chamber and a bait holderextending beyond the open end of said socket member, a ring pinreciprocable in said retainer and adapted to fire a cartridge held insaid cartridge chamber, and a spring for actuating said ring pin, of adetent carried by said retainer and movable readily thereof between aninner position in which said detent engages the iiring pin to hold saidpin in cocked position, and in an outer position in which said detentengages in said recess of said socket member to hold said retaineragainst longitudinal movement relative to said socket member in eitherdirection.

2. In a trap gun, the combination with a cylindrical socket member openat one end and having an internal recess spaced from said open end, ahollow retainer longitudinally slidable in Said The balls 25 aresocketmember and having `v.at one end a cartridge chamber Iand a baitholder extending beyond the open end of said socket member, saidretainer having inits sidewall an openingadapted to open into saidrecess of the socket lmember when the net/ailier is partially Withdrawnrfrom ,the socket member, a detent element loosely confined in saidopening, a ring pin longitudinally movable vin said retainer and adaptedto re a cartridge held in said cartridge chamber, ,and a spring formovingv said iiri-ng pin from `a cocked position to a red position, saidyiiring pin having la reduced portion adapted kto engagesaid detentelement to retain it in said opening with the ring pin incockedposition, and an enlarged portion adapted to engage `said detentelement to retain it in said opening and recess Iwhen thering pin is in`fired position.

3. In a trap gun, the combination with a cyliny drical socket memberopen at one end and having arecess in its inner surface Iand spaced fromsaid open end, a cylindrical retainer longitudinally movable in saidsocket member and -having at one end a cartridge chamber and a baitholder extending beyond the open end of said socket member, a firing pinreciprocable in said retainer and adapted to re a cartridge held in saidcartridge chamber, and a spring for actuating said ring pin, of a detentfor -holding said firing pin -in cocked position, said detent beingassociated with said retainer and being movable into fsaid recess in thesocket membertc release the ring pin upon predetermined movement of theretainer relative to said socketfmember, said ring pin havinganfenlarged portion` engaging said detent when said pin is in viiredposition to hold-,said detent in said recess and thereby lock saidretainer against movement in either direction relative to said socketmember.' f

4. In a trapy gun, thecombination with a cylindrical socket member openat one end and having a recess in its inner surface at a position spacedfrom said open end .and providing upper and lower abutments, acylindrical retainer longitud nally -movable in said socket member andhaving at one end a cartridge holder extending beyond the open end ofsaid lsocket member, a ring pin reciprocable Vin said retainer between aset position and a sprung position and adapted to re a cartridge held bysaid cartridge holder,A and a spring for actuating the firing pin, of adetent carried by said retainer and movable radially thereof between aninner `position in which said detent engages the firing pin to hold itin cocked position and an outer position in which said detent engages insaid recess of the socket member to hold the retainer againstlongitudinal movement relative to the socket member, said ring ipinhaving` a portion thereof in engagement with-the detent .to hold thedetent within the retainer and :in the yrecess in sprung position. 5.rIn a trap gun, the combination with a cylindrical socket member having arecess providing an abutmentpositioned adjacent the end thereof, a.cylindrical retainer longitudinally movable in said socket member andprovided at one end with a cartridge chamber, the retainer adapted to bemoved out of thev'socket member, a ring pin reciprooable in saidretainer and `adapted to re a cartridge held in said cartridge chamber,and 1a spring for actuating the firing pin, said firing pin beingmovable against the force of its spring from fired position to ,setposition and having an elongated'cylindrical portion closely fittinginside the cylindrical retainer, la reduced upper portion vandalshoulder between said two portions, of a detent carried by saidretainer and movable radially thereof between an 4inner position inwhich said detent engages said shoulder of the firing pin to hold it incocked Aposition and an outer posit-ion in which said detent engagessaid abutment of the socket memben'the elongated portion of the firingpin being of :such length and diameter las to engage the detent when'the firing pin is in red :position to lock the detent in engagement withrsaid abutment and therebyholdsaidretainer vagainst movementlongitudinally of the socket member during an initial portion ofthesetting movement while permitting movement of said ring pin relative tosaid retainer until said shoulder of the iring pin has passed thedetent. saidfdetent'being thereupon engageable with ysaid shoulder ofthe el'lririg pin during a subsequent portion of said setting movementto hold said iiring pin in set position while permitting said retainerand the iiring pin to move-as a unit relative toisaidgsocket member,inward movement of the vdetent being limited by an engagement with saidreduced 'portion of the firing pin.

JOHN U. LEHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES ,PATENTIS Germany June 12, 1914

